The use of repetitive anesthesia with isoflurace (one of the most common anesthetics by inhalation) increases the risk of developing changes similar to those observed in AD brains in mice with mutations of the amyloid precursor protein (APP).

This is the main conclusion of Spanish researchers coordinated by Doctors Maria Angeles Mena and Justo Garcia de Yebenes, from CIBERNED (Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas). The work has been published in an authoritative publication in this area of pathology: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Other participants in the study are Juan Perucho, Isabel Rubio, Maria J. Casarejos, Ana Gomez, Jose A. Rodriguez-Navaro, Rosa M. Solano, from the Neurobiology and Neurology Departments at Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid.

The findings suggest a possible mechanism of developing Alzheimer. Some epidemiological studies have shown an increased prevalence of AD in patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery. Doctor Justo Garcia de Yebenes states that "before surgery requiring anesthesia, it may be ideal to know the genetic background of the patients so that the drugs used and the pattern of anesthesia may be personalized accordingly."